Return to Peru

With a few minutes spare before jumping on another bus, I thought I´d write a quick blog update to explain some of the pics I uploaded earlier.

It´s awesome being back in Peru. It has reminded me so much of the trek to Machu Picchu six years ago. The scenery is breathtaking (and so is the altitude). Having learned from experience, we totally chilled out in Cusco and drank lots of coca tea.

Our time in Peru is short so we´ve organised a whistlestop tour. We took a bus along the sacred valley checking out various ruins and stopping at little towns. We also shared a couple of beers with honeymooners Paddy and Aggy. The funniest part of the trip was Dave spying a poor American who looked slightly like George W and then he spent the next hour stalking the poor guy trying to get photos of him.

We then jumped on the backpacker train to Aquas Calientes, doorway to Machu Pacchu, again meeting a nice French couple who we had a good chat with.

As it was literally a very short stopover, we stayed in a hostel. To be fair, it was ok, but I woke covered in a rash. Strange... but it seems to have gone since we got back into hotels..

The next morning, we jumped on the bus to Machu Picchu. I stand by my previous view that if you have time and are physically able, you should trek to Machu Picchu. But we didn´t have time and it was amazing to get the chance to go there again.

We only had a couple of hours and then it was back on the train. We paid to get the train that offers the best views. I sat back, turned on my new roadtrip album* and soaked in the views. But then the pipes started blaring over the speaker system and a very oddly dressed man started doing *the* campest dance we had ever seen (see pics), followed by the stewards doing a fashion show up and down the train. I can safely say, it was the most bizarre train I have ever been on.

Next on the itinerary was Lake Titicaca. A night bus to Puno, a 90 minute wait in a freezing cold bus station at 4.30am and a quick stop at a hostel for a shower and we were on our way. The lake is just massive. We did various stop-offs, we were made to dress in silly clothes etc and then went on to a town where we would spend the night with a local family. It felt a bit like being picked for the netball team at school, but Dave and I were picked first and introduced to our new ´sister´.

We climbed quite a big hill and met our new family, armed with our sheet of Quechean niceties such as 'this food is delicious'. We had lunch and then the locals challenged the visitors to a game of footie. As expected, the little mountain goats ran rings around the locals due to the altitude. After dinner, we were then dressed up in traditional dress (and it is fair to say Dave got away far more lightly than I did) and we set off for 'the dance'. The men sat in one corner, the women in another and the visitors in another. Then the band started and the women got up and invited us to dance. For anyone who has done this type of thing, you know the story. You master the first dance (which usually involves shuffling from side to side) and quickly realise that every dance is the same. Either that, or the subtleties are beyond the visitor. But Dave did an excellent job of swinging the women around the floor.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the first people to say they needed their beds and there was a mass exodus. After a good night's sleep, we had breakfast with our families and said our goodbyes. I sound cynical, but it was a lovely experience, particularly staying with the family.

Last night we stayed in a nice hotel with a bath AND a hairdryer and I must say, it was lovely.

Oh... final thing. Have secured a job managing internal comms for Microsoft Australia for 12 months. So it is safe to say that, now I know we have an income, it is hotels all the way from here (as if there was any doubt).

xxx

* Top music recommendation... First Days of Spring by Noah and the Whale. Downloaded for long bus rides and it is just lovely.